November 10th, 2023

Life is fairly ordinary around here lately.  But then, I find that most of life is like that.  Mundane, normal, sameysame, uneventful.  And you know what, I honestly am fine with that.  There is a comfort to be found in a mostly quiet life with only occasional moments of Excitement or Surprise or Scary Stuff.  

And I don't think that is just Our life that is like that. I suspect that Most people's lives are 80% prosaic.  There are of course the exceptions to the rule.  People whose lives are filled with one exciting adventure after another.  But now that I think about it, I bet that even those people, whose lives are Very  Different from mine, (and perhaps yours) have moments when they look around and think, "This is so very monotonous".  Their monotony may sound exceptional and fascinating to us but to them it's all rather "meh".  

As is most everything, this too is relative.

I suppose I could post some updates on our very ordinary life today.  Keep in mind please that  , when your life is very small, small things become very large.  

Update the first:  I made a big old batch of chili, something I absolutely love but only make rarely.   But when I was ready to serve it I discovered that we had no cheddar cheese..  Traditionally I always sprinkle the top with a little cheddar (and sometimes sour cream and chopped scallions).  It's just something I do.  But when I went to the fridge to get said cheese, I realized that we had no cheddar. NO Cheddar??? Dang.  Ok what alternatives do we have then I asked myself.  Well,  we had provolone - nah, swiss - gosh no, American  - absolutely not and some shredded mozzarella. Hmmmmmm.  Gave the mozz a try and oh my goodness, it was wonderful!  Way better than cheddar.  I think that's going to become the new normal.  Mozzarella cheese on Chili!  Who knew?

I don't seem to be able to make a small amount of chili. Nope it always ends up being created by the vat. And it's a busy sort of chili with lots of veggies:  tomatoes, onions, peppers, 3 kinds of beans and corn!  Ground beef of course.  Loads of spices and other flavourings. And then it needs to just simmer awhile. Let those flavours mingle :)  Served with Cornbread. The first day always freshly made cornbread.  

In subsequent days it may be served over baked potato, on a salad or with elbow macaroni so that it becomes Chili-mac which is definitely a comfort food.  Ain't nothin' wrong with that!
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Update the second:  My hair.  It's still growing long, it's past  my shoulders now which is perfect for a ponytail, a braid or just thrown up into a messy bun.   But the bangs are still in the process of growing out.  I can't quite tuck it behind my ears and have it stay put yet.  Almost!  But not quite.  So I still employ a great number of clips and barrettes and pins to keep it out of my face.  

And of course, I am greyer than ever before. It wasn't that long ago - last year maybe? or the year before - that I stopped colouring my hair and was disappointed and surprised to find that it was just a boring sort of mouse brown.  Bah.   Then when the greys starting coming in, I was honestly pleased.  Almost anything is better than Mouse brown.  Even grey.   Not only is there more of grey but I think some of the grey is leaning toward white and that absolutely delights me!

In my order of preference it's Number 3 grey...bah...grey...just not appealing to me in any form or fashion.  Number 2 is silver.  I suppose technically it's still grey, but at least it's sparkly.  And then Number 1 with a bullet is white. Soft, bright, shiny, white hair is gorgeous!    As more and more of Numbers 3 and 2 creep into my hair, which are kind of ho hum, I am encouraged to see bit of white in certain places which give me great hope.  Mostly, so far, the white is at the temples and can only be seen if I clip the sides up.  Still, I'll take it!

It's not as if I have any control over it. I cannot order my hair to do something it isn't going to do, or force it to be a particular shade (other than by dying it which I am not going to do). So I have chosen to be pleased with the results no matter what they are.

This is me back in August.  So definitely more grey and silver and white now, 3 months later.  

Update the third: The kitties!

We have now had the kitty boys for two weeks and we are definitely becoming more comfortable with each other.  Every day is a new surprise!  Probably the biggest changes have come from Wyatt who was the original "scaredy cat" when they first came.  Wyatt spent most of his time hiding under the bed in the guest room the first few days.  Eventually he began coming out a little more but he allowed no touching.   No touching!  And he continued to sleep in the far corner under the bed in the guest room.

It makes sense if you think like a feral cat.  One of the times of their days when they are the most vulnerable is when they are sleeping, so ferals choose a spot where they feel safe.    We get it. So we didn't force him to come out, we tried to help him realize that this entire house is a safe place.  We are his safe place.  Eventually he graduated from under the bed to in our closet.  Specifically Tim's side of the closet where this silly kitty chose to sleep on uncomfortable shoes so he could feel safe but still be near us.  To our great surprise one day I stepped into the family room and Wyatt was sound asleep in his kitty bed!!  Right out there in the open! Wow!  

He also actively seeks out pets now.  Lots of pets. Lots and lots of pets!   Tim says he  is making up for lost time. And if that is the case, it's just  fine with us.  We can absolutely take out time in our day to stop whatever we are doing for a few minutes  to lavish Wyatt (and Brysco) with lots of attention.

They also sleep in the kitty tree, paper bags, and inside their kitty tunnel and kitty cube!  The tunnel and the cube I think are reminiscent of whatever safe kitty den they had as feral kittens.  

And they play. Playplayplayplay!!  They are good about entertaining themselves and each other but there are times when they definitely want us involved too. And it's frankly a lovely break in our day to stop what we are doing and play with them a few minutes.    

As is the way with most  cats, they  play a lot a night!  Every morning one of the first things I do is put the house back to rights.  We find the most surprising things.  Fang marks in my newspaper (that I didn't read the night before and was sitting on the counter to be fair), towels on the floor instead of on the towels racks, my glasses.....everywhere!  They are crazy about eyewear!  Books knocked off the bookshelves (of course - no surprise there), soap dispensers knocked into the sinks,  and all of their toys strewn all over the house.

The most surprising thing so far was the morning I found the cloth bag that holds our gloves/scarves/mittens, which is normally on a shelf in the guest closet, on the floor of the living room.  How on earth did they get that down?  This is the shelf that is Above the clothes rod.  I have trouble reaching it!  But there it was on the floor in the living room, partly open (I guess they eventually gave up on it).  Did they levitate?  Ah the mysterious ways of kitties.

None of those things I just listed bother me in the slightest.  They are baby kitties. They are curious about everything and they didn't harm one single thing.    I just put it back where it belongs and chuckle to myself.

They do make us laugh.  Tim and I have always been people who enjoy laughing but I think we laugh even more now.  All these silly goobers have to do is look at me upside down and I'm cracking up.  

Brysco still wants to help us do whatever we are doing.  He was trying to help me fill ice trays this morning.  He definitely wants to help  with cooking or baking but is actively discouraged from that.  Nobody wants fur in the food for one thing but mostly I don't want him to get hurt.  He still follows me around as I vacuum (to save me from the vacuum monster maybe?) and checks on me every time I shower.  (you ok in there mom?)  He helps me dust, sweep, fold clothes and change sheets.  He would like to help me iron (by playing with the cord) but I also discourage that. Repeatedly!

I guess they are the most exciting things in our lives right now and that suits us right down to our toes.  Here are some new photos : (You knew you werent' getting away without that!)
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I guess as updates go, it isn't much. But honestly that's all I have.  Maybe I will have something more exciting and interesting for you next week!

Meanwhile, Have a wonderful, full-filled, exciting, adventurous weekend!  And then tell me about it.  I'm good with living vacariously ;)